International Day of the Peacekeepers 17th Annual Conference: The Thin Blue Line

This annual conference, jointly organised by the United Nations Association – UK, UNA-Westminster and RUSI, is the UK’s most authoritative public review of UN peacekeeping activities.

Now in its 17th year, the conference will focus on challenges and opportunities that face contemporary UN peacekeeping as the Secretary General’s Action For Peacekeeping agenda is endorsed by a growing number of member states at the same time as missions in Mali, Central African Republic, South Sudan and the DRC become ever more challenging. The Conference will have a broad agenda this year with sessions considering the relationship between the UN, the mission and parties to a conflict as well as on the role of policing in peacekeeping.

As always, the conference will provide an opportunity for discussion between policymakers, officials, the military, academics and the third sector.

Speakers will include

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Løj served as the Special Representative of the Secretary General and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) from 2008-2012 and as the Special Representative of the Secretary General and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan from 2014-2016. Prior to joining the United Nations she served for 35 years in the Foreign Service of Denmark posted among others as Ambassador to Israel (1989-92), Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2001-2007) and Ambassador to the Czech Republic in 2007. During her tenure in New York she represented Denmark on the Security Council 2005-06. She also served as State Secretary responsible for Denmark’s relations with Asia, Africa and Latin America (including Danish development assistance- DANIDA) from 1996 -2001.

Corporate

Individual

RUSI members enjoy privileged access to the RUSI Journal, Newsbrief and Defence Systems as well as invitations to our full programme of exclusive members’ lectures and seminars. Members also have access to our renowned Library of Military History and online catalogue.